Accelerator for the breechblock of automatically loading firearms



WWI 47 G 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. PELO ACCELERATOR FOR THE BREECH BLOCK OF AUTOMATICALLY LOADING FIREARMS INVEI NTOR M 4 &

July 19, 1949.

' Filed March 28, 1941 July 19, 19.49. c. PELO 2,476,622

ACCELERATOR FOR THE BREECH BLOCK 0F AUTOMATICALLY LOADING FIREARMS Filed March 28, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 2 l5 l H i 5 7 6 8 INVENTOR Patented July 19, 1949 UNITED STATES NT QFFHCE Carl Pelo, Helsingiors, Finland Application March 28, 1941, Serial No. 385,615 In Germany November 1, 1938 Section 3, Public Law v690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires November 1, 1958 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an automatically loading firearm and more particularly to an accelerator for accelerating not only the backward movement but also the forward movement of the breech block.

It is known to use accelerators for firearms with recoiling barrel in order to increase the backward moving impulse of the breech block so as to make sure that the speed of the breech in backward direction is suificiently high.

It may happen, however, that a fired cartridge case adheres to the cartridge seat so that the functioning of the firearm ceases. An ordinary accelerator is not capable of removing such a cartridge because of the heavy resistance.

It often happens, that the breech block is not pushed forward at a sufficiently high speed during the forward motion of the movable parts, or that the breech block and the barrel extension do not co-operate properly during the forward movement, which also gives rise to improper operation. Known accelerators have no infiuence whatever upon the forward movement.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved accelerating device in order to overcome the difficulties referred to above in such a way that the accelerator forces the breech block backwards during the backward movement with a force high enough to remove a cartridge case that may have got stuck in the cartridge seat, and during the forward movement forces the breech block forward against the barrel, so that these two parts are completely joined together.

Another object of the invention is to provide an accelerator acting as a locking device for a recoiling carrier, for instance a barrel extension, locking this carrier in a rear position, from Where is cannot be released until the breech block during the forward movement has returned to its right position in relation to the slidable carrier. In this way these two parts are absolutely prevented from getting out of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide an accelerator, acting as releasable locking device to hold the breech block pressed against the barrel, when the barrel and the slidable carrier are in the foremost limit position.

According to the invention an accelerator for the breech block of automatically loading firearms comprises two co-operating members, pivoted on a recoiling carrier, of which the one member during the backward and forward movement of the carrier, gives the breech block a backward and forward, respectively, moving impulse, whereas the other member engages and locks the first member after the backward movement of the breech block has been accelerated, being disengaged again from the firstmentioned member during the forward movement of the breech block.

The invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical, longitudinal section of the central part of a rifle embodying features of this invention and with the moving parts in their forward or firing position.

Fig. 2 is a view in plan but with the breech block and the barrel extension in horizontal, longitudinal section.

Figs. 3-5 are enlarged sectional views taken horizontally and showing diagrammatically such mechanical parts only as are necessary for comprehending the invention. Fig. 3 shows the parts in firing position. Fig. 4 shows the parts after firing and with the breech block 3 recoiling. Fig. 5 shows the parts when the breech block has reached its rear position.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings and particularly to Figs. 3-5, the rifle comprises a recoil barrel l, a barrel extension 2 rigidly connected to the barrel, a breech block 3 slidable in the barrel extension, and a frame 4 for instance screwed onto the stock of the rifle. The barrel extension is slidably mounted in the frame 3 for instance by means of guide bars on the barrel extension and corresponding grooves in the frame. The breech block is influenced by a recoil spring I '1 and the barrel extension, if desired, may be provided with recoil or buffer springs but as these springs or other recoil devices of the rifle are outside the scope of this invention it is not further referred to. In the barrel extension 2 a lever 5 and a pawl t are swingably arranged on pivots l and 8. The lever is provided with an arm 9, which at the recoil slides along a slide face on the frame 4, meanwhile preventing this lever 5 from swinging on its pivot 1. But Just before the barrel extension has reached its rear limit position, the arm '9 strikes against a part of the frame 4 and slides into a notch ll, thus pivoting the lever 5 in a clockwise direction. This pivoting causes an arm ID on the lever 5, which arm has been received in a recess 12 in the breech block, to bear against the rear face of the recess, thus imparting an accelerating force to the breech block. This force is derived from the inertia of the barrel and the barrel extension.

The lever 5 and the barrel extension thus have entered into the position shown in Fig. 4, the swinging movement of theleverhaving been completed. The pawl '0, under-the influenceof the pressure of a spring 13, immediately pivots clockwise until its teeth 14 engages with .a shoulder 15 on the lever 5. In this way the lever 5 is prevented from swinging back.

The lever 5 is thus stopped thereby locking the barrel extension in its rear limit. position. The arm I has now completelyswung outof contact with the breech block. An arm IS on the pawl 0, which has hitherto been outside the course of the breech block, swings into this course on account of the movement of the pawl referred "toabove. The breech .blockalone continues'its movement until its limit position is: reached-ac shown in Fig. 5.

When thebreech block'then under influence.

of its recoil spring I1 is moving forward it-strikes the arm I6 and-swings the pawl anticlockwise;

so that the tooth I4 is brought out of engagement--with the'shoulder on the; lever" 5. As

shown in Figs. "4 and 5,"the'end-of"thearm' i0 extends into the course of the breech block.

-When'the breech block is moving forward, the rear surface of the recess l2 strikesagainst the end of the'arm I0. The barrel extension is now f'sta'rting its forward -movement under the influen'ce of spring [1, whereby at the same time the lever'5 through its arm 9 is swinging andby-means of its arm I0 accelerates the forward'movement of the breech block.

The accelerating of the forwardmovement of the breech block may be increased if the barrel extension is alsoprovided withrecoitspr-ings,

as already 'mentioned. i'In thiscasait is not quite necessary that the end or the arm 50 extends into the course of the breechblock.

Whenthe barrel and the barrel extension together with the breech block are in the foremost ;position the arm 9 of 1the 'lever 5 rests-against the fixed framed and the arm [0 holds the breech .block pressed against the barrel. ".This lo'cking device is sufficient for small firearms, for instance pistols, but otherwise the breech'block "may be provided-withcatches l8, H, which .are

mounted in recesses on each side. The-catches are pivotally secured to the breech block in such I a way that their rear ends can move outwardly Their formostiends, however, are at a greater distancefromjone. another than their parallel parts. At the: foremost position of the breech block the guide pins are in, the-front-endsof the said-grooves =andthe "is to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustration only, and the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but

--is-tobe determined by the appended claim.

I-claim; In an automatic fire-arm a frame having a plane guiding surface at its front end; a recess rigidly-connected to each other and slidably in' said frame at the rear end of said plane guidingsurface; a recoil barrel and a barrel extension mounted in said frame movably with respect to the latter by the recoil force resulting from firing said fire-arm; a breech block slidably mounted'in said barrel extension; a recess in said breech-block disposed intermediate the ends thereof; a double-armed lever. member pivotally mounted on-said barrel extension, the first lever arm of said double-armed lever member normally engaging said plane guiding surface of said frame holding the second lever arm ofsaid doublearmed lever member in said recess in said breech block, said first lever' arm entering said recess in said frame during recoil of said barrelextension thereby turning said double-armed lever member and imparting by. means of said second lever arm a rearward push to said breech block; .a projection on said double-armed lever, member; a loci:- ing pawl pivoted to'said' barrel extension and adapted to' engage said projection on said double armed lever member when saidfirst lever arm of said:double-armed"lever member is located in said recess in said frame so as tolock said thus forcing said breech block on its return motion to strike said projecting arm and turn said locking'pawl out of locking, position thereby unlocking said double-armed lever member.

CARL PELO.

REFERENCES CITED The follolwing references are of record inthe file of 7 this patent:

-' UNITED STATES PATENTS i'jFran'ce k. toot. 15,1928 

